Two separate traffic stops made by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Highway Safety Unit in a span of 15 minutes Sunday led to deputies confiscating more than 400 pounds of marijuana being smuggled on Interstate 20 East between Irondale and Leeds.

According to Lt. Randy Christian here's what happened:

A truck pulling a trailer with two horses was stopped for a traffic violation. A search of the trailer uncovered more than 400 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $820,000. About 15 minutes later, a rental car was stopped and approximately 10 pounds of marijuana -- with a street value of about $22,000 -- was found hidden in the vehicle.

Although the two stops were unrelated, both vehicles appear to have been headed to the Charlotte, N.C. area.

Jorge Cruz Saenz, 23 of McAllen, Texas, was arrested in the first stop and has been charged with marijuana trafficking. Saenz was held Monday after on $250,000 bond.

Courtney Thompson, 28, and Johnnie Robert Thompson, 42, both of Charlotte, N.C. and 34-year-old Oscar Charles Willingham of Gurdon, Ark., were arrested in the second stop. They were charged with marijuana trafficking and each were being held on $50,000 bond.

The truck and horse trailer were seized and the two horses were taken into protective custody by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Animal Cruelty deputy.